Crimping tool

ABSTRACT

A crimping tool for crimping sections of different sizes, includes a first jaw with a die and a second jaw with a crimping piece including a pointed elongated element having a longitudinal extent that defines a work direction. The first jaw includes a jaw body with a free end that includes the die. The first jaw extends towards the free end in a direction forming an angle with the work direction of the crimping piece.

The invention relates to a crimping tool for crimping sections of different sizes.

In the assembly of sections in order to form framing for partitions or any other type of separations between two spaces or when such sections must be assembled in order to form a frame intended for receiving separation elements in plate or panel form, the panel worker essentially has two possibilities for attaching the sections to one another. The first possibility consists of drilling holes in the sections to be assembled and of inserting screws or rivets in them. The second possibility consists of using a crimping tool and thus of obtaining a quick and solid fastening of the sections with respect to one another without preliminary drilling.

However, with the crimping tools used until now, the choice of the crimping positions is limited.

In effect, the sections ordinarily used for forming frameworks of partitions or separations include at least some U-shaped sections intended for forming rails arranged, for example, on the floor and ceiling of a space in which a partition is to be erected, as well as L-shaped sections intended for forming uprights arranged between the rails of the floor and those of the ceiling.

Similar sections are also used for forming frameworks of wall coverings. These frameworks correspond essentially to those of the partitions or separations, with the exception of their short distance from the wall to be covered. This short distance does not change the principle of assembly of the sections but does constitute a limited access for the crimping tool.

When the framing is put on a wall intended for receiving opposing panels, the crimping of the uprights on the U-shaped rails can be done in the two sides of the U-shaped section located on the wall side, so that the opposite side of the U-shaped section oriented towards the room maintains an intact appearance.

However, in order to access the rear side of the U-shaped section in order to crimp it there, the section to be crimped must be sufficiently small with respect to the free space behind the section that it is possible to pass a jaw of the not very large tool between the wall and the rail. At the same time, the dimensions of the tool must be such that the other jaw of the tool can be introduced between the two sides of the U-shaped section in order to be able to do the crimping there.

When, in contrast, the upright is a U-shaped section arranged on the rails in such a way that the middle part of the U-shaped section is turned to one side or towards the other partition to be erected, it is a matter of being able to place the crimping tool so that one of the two jaws of the crimping tool can penetrate to the bottom of the U-shaped section of the upright and so that the other jaw can be put on the side corresponding to the rail. There is no problem in such a crimping operation if the U-shaped section forming the upright is not very deep or if there is enough room there behind the section to pass a crimping tool with appropriate jaw dimensions.

But when the panel worker encounters such an arrangement of the sections on a framework arranged on a wall, there is generally very little room behind the sections. Consequently, a tool with large jaws and which could therefore be suitable for crimping large sections, could not pass behind the sections.

On the other hand, when it is a matter of crimping small sections, there is generally not enough room around or inside the sections for the insertion of a large crimping tool with large jaws.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a crimping tool which can be used to crimp sections of different sizes and preferably also in different mounting positions of the sections.

The object of the invention is realized with a crimping tool for crimping sections of different sizes, having a first jaw provided with a die and a second jaw provided with a crimping piece formed with a pointed elongated element whose longitudinal extent defines a work direction, the first and second jaws being articulated on a first shaft allowing them to be pivoted between an open position for being engaged on a section to be crimped and a closed position at the end of crimping, as well as a first branch and second branch which are articulated on a second shaft and articulated with the jaws on a third shaft and a fourth shaft which are arranged respectively on the first jaw and on the second jaw allowing them to make the jaws pivot between the open and closed positions.

According to the invention, the first jaw has a jaw body housing the first and third shafts, and an arm extending the jaw body towards a free end of the first jaw, the free end being provided with the die, and by the fact that the arm extends in a direction forming an angle with the work direction of the crimping piece.

Such a multi-sectioned tool of the invention is distinguished from the crimping tool used until now in that the parts of the jaws that are respectively provided with a die and with a crimping piece are no longer aligned on one another but rather form an angle between one another. This angle is obtained by shaping one of the two jaws of the crimping tool of the invention in such a way that at least a part of the jaw provided with the die extends obliquely with respect to the work direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the crimping piece. This angle between the direction of longitudinal extent of the arm and the work direction of the crimping piece varies as a function of the precise position between the open position and the closed position of the jaws of the tool.

For practical reasons of use, it will generally be the jaw provided with the die that will extend obliquely with respect to the work direction of the crimping piece when the tool is in the closed position. The jaw provided with the crimping piece will extend essentially transversely with respect to the work direction of the crimping piece.

Furthermore, the first and second jaws of the crimping tool of the invention are individual pieces mounted so as to pivot with respect to one another as well as with respect to the branches of the tool by which the tool is operated.

In order to obtain reduction of the angular movement of the branches of the tool during its use, the first to fourth shafts are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the distances between the first shaft and respectively the third shaft and fourth shaft are greater than the distances between the second shaft and respectively the third shaft and the fourth shaft.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first to fourth shafts are arranged with respect to one another in such a way as to define the four corners of an asymmetrical quadrilateral regardless of the position of the jaws.

Advantageously, the first and second jaws are both provided with a bearing edge, the bearing edges serving for mutual support of the two jaws on one another when they are in closed position.

The present invention also relates to the characteristics hereafter considered separately or in any technically possible combination:

the die is in the form of a single piece with the arm of the first jaw;

the crimping piece is connected to the second jaw;

the crimping piece is interchangeable and is attached to the second jaw by at least one bolt;

the crimping piece is interchangeable and is attached to the second jaw by a bolt and a pin;

the second jaw is at least partially slotted at the site where the crimping piece is attached, in such a way that the crimping piece is held in the slot;

the second branch is provided with a projecting part oriented towards the first branch and outwardly tapering in its direction.

Due to the arrangements of the invention according to which a part of the jaw provided with a die forms an angle with the work direction of the crimping piece, this jaw can be introduced inside of a section from one side or the other of the section and no longer has to be introduced in the alignment of the work direction of the crimping piece, as is the case with the crimping tool used until now.

Thus, due to the arrangements of the invention, the tool can be introduced into a section to be crimped even when there is not much room behind the section, and moreover, during introduction of the jaw inside of a section to be crimped, a curved movement, not necessarily in the form an arc of circle, can be performed until the free end of the jaw provided with a die can rest inside of the section. So that these arrangements of the invention can be fully utilized, the two branches of the crimping tool of the invention are arranged with respect to the two jaws in such a way that

when the tool is completely closed, the two branches are oriented so as to form, with a transverse line running along the back of the first jaw, with respect to the work direction of the crimping piece, an angle oriented towards the same side of this transverse line as the second jaw;

when the tool is completely open, the first branch is partially on the other side of said transverse line, seen with respect to the second jaw, but is in no case beyond the line marking the direction in which the arm of the first jaw extends;

when the tool begins to close, the first branch very quickly returns completely to the same side of said transverse line as the side where the second branch and the jaws are.

Thanks to this arrangement of the branches with respect to the jaws, it is assured that the panel worker can insert the tool behind a section and then inside of the section in order to bring it into the crimping position, and that during this curved movement, the position of the first branch is not a hindrance to the execution of this curved movement.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description hereafter of an embodiment of the tool of the invention, this description being given in reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the tool of the invention in the closed position,

FIG. 2 shows the tool of the invention in an intermediate position,

FIG. 3 shows the tool of the invention in the open position and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section IV-IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 in the form of a side view shows the tool according to the invention with jaws completely closed. This figure also shows the different directions and orientations mentioned above which contribute towards characterizing the tool of the invention.

The tool represented in FIG. 1 comprises first jaw 1 provided with die 2 and second jaw 3 provided with crimping piece 4 formed by a pointed elongated element whose longitudinal extent defines the work direction T. First and second jaws 1, 3 are articulated between one another on first shaft 5 allowing them to be pivoted between an open position for being engaged on a section to be crimped and a closed position at the end of crimping, as well as first branch 6 and second branch 7 which are articulated between one another on second shaft 8 and articulated with jaws 1, 3 on third shaft 9 and fourth shaft 10 which are respectively arranged on first jaw 1 and on second jaw 3 allowing them to make jaws 1, 3 pivot between the open position and the closed position.

First jaw 1 has jaw body 11 housing first and third shafts 5, 9, and arm 12 extending jaw body 11 towards free end 13 of first jaw 1, free end 13 being provided with die 2. Arm 12 extends in a direction B forming an angle S with the work direction T of crimping piece 4.

First to fourth shafts 5, 8, 9, 10 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the distances between first shaft 5 and respectively third shaft 9 and fourth shaft 10 are greater than the distances between second shaft 8 and respectively third shaft 9 and fourth shaft 10.

First and second jaws 1, 3 are both provided with bearing edge 14, 15. These edges serve for mutual support of the two jaws 1, 3 on one another when they are in the closed position.

The four shafts 5 and 8 to 10 are in this case produced in the form of bolts, that is, hexagonal-head screws that pass through the branches and/or the jaws and have self-locking nuts on the ends opposite the screw heads.

The curved form of second branch 7 is chosen so as to produce rather quickly during a crimping operation a sufficient coming together of branches 6, 7 to allow the veneer worker to manipulate the tool with one hand. Thanks to an appropriate choice of the positions of the four shafts 5 and 8 to 10, the panel worker at that time can exert sufficient force with one hand to produce correct crimping.

The free ends of first and second branches 6, 7 are both provided with a plastic handle M1, M2. These handles are shaped so as to ensure the reliable manipulation of the tool by the panel worker during the crimping operation. They are made out of a plastic material.

One of the two branches of the tool, in this case branch 7, is advantageously provided with projecting part 19 oriented towards first branch 6 and outwardly tapering towards it. A detail view is shown in FIG. 4 which is a cross section through line IV-IV in FIG. 1 that passes through first branch 6 and second branch 7. This design detail prevents the panel worker, when he approaches the end of the crimping movement and particularly when he manipulates the tool with one hand, from injuring his hand by squeezing.

FIG. 2 shows, in the form of a perspective view, jaws 1, 3 of the tool in the partly open position and the beginning of branches 6, 7. This figure shows in detail that die 2 is in the form of a single piece with arm 12 of first jaw 1 and that crimping piece 4 is connected to second jaw 3. More precisely, crimping piece 4 is in this case an interchangeable piece attached to second jaw 3 by bolt 16 and pin 17. Second jaw 3 is partially slotted at site 18 where crimping piece 4 is attached, in such a way that piece 4 is held at the free end of jaw 3 in slot 18.

FIG. 3 shows the jaws and the beginning of the branches of the tool of the invention in the completely open state. FIG. 3 also shows some intermediate positions of piece 4 between the completely open position of the jaws and their closed position, assumed by second jaw 3 and particularly therefore by piece 4 with respect to first jaw 1 over a curve C.

Furthermore, the drawings show, particularly when FIG. 1, which shows the tool of the invention in completely a closed position, is compared with FIG. 3, which shows the tool of the invention in a completely open position, that the four shafts 5, 8, 9 and 10 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way as to define the four corners of an asymmetrical quadrilateral, regardless of the position of the jaws. FIG. 2 also shows this but less clearly because of the perspective. 

1. A crimping tool for crimping sections of different sizes, comprising. a first jaw including a die; a second jaw including a crimping piece having a pointed elongated element with a longitudinal extent defining a work direction; a first shaft about which the first and second jaws are articulated for pivoting between an open position for engaging a section to be crimped and a closed position upon completion of crimping; second, third, and fourth shafts; a first branch and a second branch articulated about the second shaft and articulated with the first and second jaws about the third shaft and the fourth shaft, respectively, the third shaft passing through the first jaw and the fourth shaft passing through the second jaw so that the first and second jaws pivot between the open position and the closed position, the first jaw comprising a jaw body through which the first shaft and the third shaft pass; and an arm extending the jaw body towards a free end of the first jaw where the die is located, wherein the arm extends obliquely with respect to the work direction of the crimping piece.
 2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw both include a bearing edge for mutual support of the first and second jaws on one another when the first and second jaws are in the closed position.
 3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth shafts are arranged with respect to one another so that respective distances between the first shaft and the third and fourth shafts are greater than respective distances between the second shaft and the third and fourth shafts.
 4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth shafts are arranged with respect to one another to define four corners of an asymmetrical quadrilateral, regardless of position of the first and second jaws.
 5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the die is a single piece with the arm of the first jaw.
 6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the crimping piece is connected to the second jaw.
 7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the crimping piece is interchangeable and attached to the second jaw by at least one bolt.
 8. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the crimping piece is interchangeable and attached to the second jaw by a bolt and a pin.
 9. T he tool according to claim 6, wherein the second jaw is at least partially slotted where the crimping piece is attached, so that the crimping piece is held in a slot.
 10. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the second branch includes a projecting part oriented towards the first branch and outwardly tapering toward the first branch.
 11. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the second jaw is at least partially slotted where the crimping piece is attached, so that the crimping piece is held in a slot.
 12. The tool according to claim 8, wherein the second jaw is at least partially slotted where the crimping piece is attached, so that the crimping piece is held in a slot. 